GUELPH — Even though the 2022 crop yields were slightly above average for Ontario corn and soybeans – and 15 % above average for wheat – there’s always crop failure and many farmers are grateful for crop insurance.
As of early April, Agricorp paid out $113.6 million in crop insurance in Ontario for the big three: corn, soybeans and wheat. Last year at this time, Agricorp paid out $27.4 million in Ontario for loss claims for corn, soybeans and wheat. The annual payout from 2016 to 2020 was on average just over $144 million.
“More than 14,000 Ontario farmers count on (crop insurance) every year to offset financial shortfalls,” said Agricorp communications manager Stephanie Charest, adding that rainfall — too much or too little — is often the biggest contributing factor to reduced yields or production losses.
Of insurance claims for all crops, 87 % were paid for yield or other loss, 9 % were paid for replanting and 4 % were paid for unseeded acreage.
Overall in Ontario, Lambton County received the biggest claim pay-out for both corn and soybeans. Agricorp paid almost $7 million to Lambton County corn growers and almost $14 million to Lambton County soybean growers.
For winter wheat, Haldimond County saw the biggest financial shortfall and farmers there received $1.315 million from Agricorp. For spring wheat, the Rainy River region growers got the largest pay out at $171,000.
Here are the largest payouts in Eastern Ontario (all counties and regions east of Toronto):
Corn growers: Prescott-Russell ($1.061 million)
Soybean growers: Prescott-Russell ($5.531 million)
Winter wheat growers: Northumberland ($106,000)
Spring wheat growers: Prescott-Russell ($36,000) and Ottawa ($36,000)
Source : Farmersforum